Removing toner from skive mount in printer

Abstract

Toner is removed, after a selected time interval, from a skive mount in a dry electrophotographic printer. An end block is disposed at one end of the rotatable development member, and a skive mount disposed adjacent to the development member connects a skive to the end block. A timing device measures a time interval of printer operation. At the selected time interval, a controller causes a backup bar to lift away from the photoreceptor, then, after a selected time delay, causes the backup bar to make physical contact with at least one point on the end block, so that the backup bar applies a selected force to the end block to cause toner on the skive mount to be removed.

1. Apparatus for removing toner after a selected time interval from a skive mount in a dry electrophotographic printer for printing a visible image on a receiver, comprising:
 a) a rotatable photoreceptor for transferring the visible image comprising toner onto the moving receiver; 
 b) a rotatable development member arranged with respect to the photoreceptor to provide toner to the photoreceptor, and an end block disposed at one end of the rotatable development member; 
 c) a toner supply arranged with respect to the development member to apply a blanket of developer to the development member, wherein the developer includes toner; 
 d) a skive disposed adjacent to the development member between the toner supply and the photoreceptor in the direction of rotation of the development member, and a skive mount disposed adjacent to the development member and connecting the skive to the end block; 
 g) a backup bar disposed adjacent to the photoreceptor, the backup bar operative in a first position to make physical contact with at least one point on the end block, so that the photoreceptor is pressed against the development member, and operative in a second position to lift away from the photoreceptor to reduce unwanted toning of the photoreceptor; 
 h) a timing device for measuring a time interval of printer operation; and 
 i) a controller responsive to the timing device and effective when the measured time interval reaches the selected time interval to automatically cause the backup bar to be in the second position, then, after a selected time delay, to cause the backup bar to be in the first position, so that the backup bar applies a selected force to the end block to cause toner on the skive mount to be removed. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skive is spaced apart from the development member by a selected nap height to reduce the height of the blanket of developer to the selected nap height. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the toner supply includes a sump, a feed roller, a feed auger, or a plurality of paddles on a non-helical roller. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a solenoid controlled by the controller and adapted to operate the backup bar. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a second end block disposed at the opposite end of the development member from the first end block. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a second backup bar arranged parallel to, and spaced apart from, the backup bar, so that the operation of the second backup bar corresponds to the operation of the backup bar. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the photoreceptor is a web photoreceptor. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the developer is a two-component developer that includes toner particles and magnetic carrier particles.